Purpose: Noninvasive tests for the evaluation of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) include quantitative photoplethysmography (QPG), air plethysmography, and duplex ultrasonography measurement of valve closure time (VCT). These tests have been shown to accurately identify the presence of CVI, define the disease, and locate the involved segments. However, the correlation of noninvasive assessment of CVI with the clinical severity (Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery staging) has not been addressed critically.
Method: During an 18-month period, 74 limbs were prospectively evaluated with clinical examination, air plethysmography, QPG and duplex ultrasonography.
Results: We studied 52 patients with a mean age of 46 years. There were 14 stage 0 limbs, 14 stage 1, 15 stage 2, and 31 stage 3. We found significant differences (p < 0.05) between normal limbs and those with CVI only by VCT and QPG. There were also marked trends toward worsening mean values for reflux (VCT, QPG, and venous filling index) and venous hypertension (residual volume fraction) between stages 0 to 1, and 1 to 2; however, there was a large degree of overlap between all groups. No test discriminated stage 2 from 3. Assessment of calf muscle pump function with ejection fraction showed no difference between any groups.
Conclusion: The Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery criteria for CVI staging distinguishes ulcerated limbs (stage 3) from those with nonulcerating skin changes (hyperpigmentation, brawny edema, and subcutaneous fibrosis) (stage 2). However, we were not able to distinguish these groups by available noninvasive methods. This may imply that these tests are not accurate enough or that the progression from lipodermatosclerosis to frank ulceration is not accounted for by large-vessel hemodynamic changes, but rather by microcirculatory alterations.